Taj Izrin Aiman, Nabil Azlan and Ethen Low lead Malaysia’s bid for individual and team honours on home ground
SHAH ALAM – Malaysia will field a formidable three-driver line-up at the 2026 TGR Asia Esport GT Championship, with three of the nation’s leading simulator racing talents set to challenge for individual and team honours when the regional competition takes place on home ground this weekend.
The championship, organised by Toyota Motor Asia (TMA), will be held on 14 and 15 November at Jiospace, a lifestyle and entertainment hub in Petaling Jaya. It will bring together some of Southeast Asia’s best simulator racers, representing Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines.
Competing on Sony PlayStation’s Gran Turismo 7 platform, the participating drivers will battle for individual glory as well as the overall team championship.
Leading Malaysia’s campaign are Taj Izrin Aiman Taj Madira, Nabil Azlan and Ethen Low – a trio bringing together international championship success, proven simulator racing credentials and emerging talent.
Taj Izrin Aiman, 27, heads into the competition with an impressive résumé that includes the Asian Games gold medal, the 2024 TGR Asia Championship title and four TGR Malaysia eRacing championship victories. The 2026 edition will mark his seventh appearance representing Malaysia in the regional championship.
His Asian Games success provides additional confidence, although the experienced racer remains mindful of the competition ahead.
“Winning the Asian Games gold medal will certainly become a huge boost of confidence for me going into the 2026 TGR Asia Esport GT Championship and for another chance to represent Malaysia.
“Despite this achievement, I approach each competition individually, knowing very well that I will be up against some of Southeast Asia’s best simulator racers. The goal will of course be to perform at my best and hopefully reclaim the individual title I won in 2024 and help to secure Malaysia the overall team title,” he said.
Joining him is Nabil Azlan, 24, who arrives with strong momentum following his recent gold medal victory at the Asia Pacific Motorsports Championship (APMC).
The 2025 TGR Malaysia eRacing Pro champion and recipient of the E-Motorsport Competitor of the Year award will be targeting his first TGR Asia Championship title.
Nabil’s motorsports journey has also extended beyond the simulator, having received an opportunity from UMW Toyota Motor to transition into real-world racing. He subsequently secured the Rookie and Sporting Class titles in the Vios Challenge.
His return to the simulator arena represents another opportunity to add a regional championship title to his growing list of achievements.
Completing the Malaysian trio is 16-year-old Ethen Low, the 2025 TGR Malaysia eRacing Junior champion, who will be making only his second international appearance for the country.
Although his recent APMC campaign ended at the semi-final stage, Low remains confident of making an impact against the region’s more experienced competitors.
“It is a huge honour to represent not only Malaysia but UMW Toyota Motor in this prestigious event. I realise I will be in the company of very competitive and experienced simulator racers but I am confident that if I hold my nerve, I have as good a chance of winning as anyone,” he said.
Low is also part of the GAZOO Racing-UMW Toyota Motor Young Talent Development Program and is currently competing as a Rookie driver in the 2026 Vios Challenge.
His development in real-world racing has been equally encouraging, with the teenager currently sharing the lead in the Rookie Class standings with two races remaining.
A championship with regional significance
Toyota’s regional simulator racing championship dates back to 2018, when it was first introduced as the GR Velocity Esports Championship.
It was subsequently renamed the Toyota GR Supra GT Cup between 2019 and 2020 before evolving into the GR GT Cup Asia Championship in 2021. The 2026 edition marks its ninth consecutive year, with the competition now taking on the new identity of the TGR Asia Esport GT Championship.
Beyond regional bragging rights, the championship serves as a platform to identify and develop leading simulator racing talent from across Asia. Previous winners have progressed to represent the region at the World Final.
This year’s Asia Final will feature a 25-minute race at Fuji Speedway, with competitors taking the wheel of a Super Formula car.
An Esports Team Race will also form part of the programme, featuring the GR Supra Racing Concept in a 20-minute contest around the Grand Valley Highway – 1 circuit.
With a combination of established champions and emerging talent, Malaysia will be aiming to make full use of its home-ground advantage as it takes on some of the region’s strongest esports racing nations.
For the latest updates on Toyota GAZOO Racing Malaysia, visit its official Facebook, Instagram and YouTube channels.
